Abolishment of Metastasis Formation by Murine Tumor Cells Transfected with “Foreign” H-2K Genes¹

High metastatic, low immunogenic Lewis lung carcinoma clones express low levels of H-2K^b major histocompatibility complex antigens. These cells metastasize spontaneously in mice with C57BL/6 genetic background possessing the H-2D^b locus. Transfection of different H-2K genes abrogates metastasis in H-2K, H-2D compatible mice and in C57BL/6 recipients. The transfected cells are potent inducers of H-2K-restricted and alloreactive cytotoxic lymphocytes that kill H-2K-positive cells and cross-react with parental nontransfected cells.